Chris's Story
Chris Glovers Story -
I had always believed, with any serious or terminal illness, there were two ways of dealing with it: - either tackle it head on and fight it every inch of the way or curl up and die. This belief was well and truly put to the test on 6th of Dec 2007 when, after two days of extensive tests in Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Prof Pam Shaw confirmed an earlier diagnosis of MND.
Not being a "Curl up and Die" person, I sat with my partner Diane and we decided we would do as much as we could together while we were able to. As we both enjoy travel and holidays, we decided this would be a good use of that time.
So we embarked on a catalogue of trips, trying to do and see as much as we could due to not knowing how much time we had.
We both felt the need for sunshine, so in Jan 2008, we booked a last minute, all inclusive fortnight in Lanzarote. This proved a much needed tonic for both of us. We also met a wonderful couple and we still remain friends. We had a fabulous time!
My next trip, in early June, presented a bit more of a challenge, as by then I was only able to walk with the aid of a walking stick and the trip was a ten day motorcycle tour of Germany and back! As my sports-bike had become virtually impossible to ride due to my worsening condition, I changed it for a more suitable bike, bought a fold-up walking stick, packed it on my bike and off I went! With the help of my brother and sister-in-law and others on the tour, I had a fantastic trip, even fitting in a lap of the Nurburgring to boot!
As things turned out, this Germany trip became my 'stag party' as, in February, leap year day to be precise, my partner Diane proposed to me. So the next trip we made together was down the aisle! On June 21st we had a wonderful wedding day with family and friends, despite the weather trying its best to dampen everyone's spirits. The following week we were off on our travels again, visiting Diane's sister and her family in Vancouver for a three week honeymoon.
You may be thinking by now that life had become one long holiday - you would be correct and what is wrong with that? No sooner were we back from Vancouver, than we were off to Greece for a two week holiday with Diane's son, daughter-in-law and our two grand-daughters.
During the winter of 2008 and early 2009, we had several weekends away by coach, but these only served to pass time until our biggest adventure of all!
In March 2009 we embarked on what was for me the holiday of a lifetime. We flew Kenya Airways to Nairobi, and then set off for a 4 day safari on the world famous Masai Mara game reserve. I did wonder at times if we had finally 'bitten off more than we could chew' as by now I was virtually confined to a wheelchair. However, thanks to the dogged determination of Diane and the helpfulness of the wonderful Kenyan people and people we met on the trip we had a fantastic and memorable time.
After seeing all the "Big 5" plus 30 or so other animals and 35 different species of birds we left the Masai Mara and flew to Mombasa for 11 nights relaxing on Mombasa beach overlooking the Indian Ocean. This led to me achieving a life-long ambition. I had always wanted to swim in the Indian Ocean, but after a discussion with friends , discretion became the better part of stupidity and a paddle in the sea was decided upon. So with a lot of help I went down the steps and across the 20 yards of sandy beach into the beautiful warm waters of the Indian Ocean!
With another trip to Vancouver recently completed, my message to anyone recently diagnosed with MND should be clear - it doesn't have to be the end of the world! For me it started a period in my life which I've enjoyed immensely and in which I have achieved many of my life's goals. And you never know you may even get a wonderful, gorgeous woman proposing to you!
